Projects

Spanish DIAMOND validity in Clinical Settings

PI: Ana J. Bridges, PhD. (University of Arkansas); Co-Investigators: Bianca T. Villalobos, Ph.D., and Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D. (California State University, Northridge)

The DIAMOND is a validated, semi-structured clinical interview to examine anxiety, mood, OCD, and related neuropsychiatric disorders in English-speaking adults; however, it has not yet been validated with Spanish-speaking adults. The purpose of this study is to establish the reliability and validity of the DIAMOND in Spanish-speaking adult populations. This project is funded by The University of Arkansas.

CSUN Salud y Esperanza Advisory Council

PIs: Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D.

The purpose of this project is to identify the barriers and facilitators that impact Latinx mixed-status families ability to access and stay engaged in mental health services. This project is funded by California State University, Northridge via Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RSCA) grant.  

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Promotoras(es) de Salud Model

PIs: Merida Escobar, Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Ph.D. (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley); Co-PIs: Tamer Oraby, Ph.D. (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), Bianca Villalobos, Ph.D. (California State University, Northridge), and Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D. (California State University, Northridge)   

The purpose of this project was to examine whether integrating AI/machine learning improved the effectiveness and accessibility of the services provided by promotoras/es. This project was funded by a NIH Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) grant.

Experiences of LGBTQ+ Latinx Individuals with Mental Health Services in South Texas

PIs: Luis Alvarez-Hernandez, Ph.D., Bianca Villalobos Ph.D., and Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D.

This study seeks to 1) understand the experiences of adult LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals with mental health services in South Texas, 2) understand the experiences of mental health providers with providing mental health services to LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals in South Texas, and 3) inform mental health care delivery with LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals in South Texas from a community-informed perspective. This study will uses qualitative research methods to learn about the experiences of LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals and mental health providers in South Texas.

Psychology Aspirations Survey Study (PASS)

PI: Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D. (California State University, Northridge); Co-PIs: Camilo Ruggero, Ph.D. (University of Texas at Dallas), Jennifer Callahan, Ph.D. (University of Texas at Dallas), David Cicero, Ph.D. (University of North Texas)

The purpose of this study is to examine factors related to undergraduate psychology majors/minors' interest in psychology graduate school. We surveyed intentions to apply, beliefs and attitudes, and previous experiences. This project is funded by a HRSA Center of Excellence subaward grant.

COVID-19 Studies

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Parenting During COVID-19

PIs: Samantha Gregus, Ph.D. (Wichita State University), Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D., (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), and Melissa Faith, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital)

The study is designed to explore how COVID-19 is impacting families with school-aged children (7-17). Our specific aims are to 1) understand the prevalence and demographic trends of clinically significant fear of COVID-19 among parents and their children, 2) evaluate the links between parent/child beliefs, attitudes, and responses to COVID-19 on parenting behavior and children's adjustment, 3) evaluate the quality of family relationships (e.g., parent-child, sibling, marital) on children's adjustment, 4) evaluate the quality of peer relationships on children's adjustment, and 5) evaluate how access to resources relates to parenting behaviors and children's adjustment during COVID-19.

Vaccination Decision-Making Among Latinx College Students

PIs: Bianca Villalobos, Ph.D. (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), Kimmy Kee-Rose, Ph.D., Nancy Chen, Ph.D., and HyeSun Lee, Ph.D. (California State University Channel Islands)

The goal of this project is to explore factors that either motivate or hinder the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among Latinx university students. Vaccination is an effective tool to protect the health and safety of college students, faculty and staff, as well as members living in the surrounding communities. However, there is insufficient understanding about how trust in sources of information and cultural factors motivate or prevent Latinx college students from getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Impact of COVID-19 on Latinx Mental Health

PIs: Bianca Villalobos, Ph.D. and Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D., (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)

COVID-19 is a novel virus that has impacted the United States and the world in unprecedented ways. Preliminary data from several states suggests that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting African-Americans and Latinxs in the United States. Existing literature has shown Latinx individuals underutilize mental health services for several reasons including language barriers, lack of health insurance, lack of transportation, and limited availability of services (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009). This study aimed to examine how the mental health of Latinxs has been impacted by the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 and whether changes in mental health have led more Latinx individuals to consider obtaining mental health services via telehealth.